Bed for long-stay patients

ABSTRACT

Bed for long-stay patients, in particular for bedridden patients suffering from bedsores, comprising a metal frame supporting a support platform for a mattress, characterized in that said mattress consists of a plurality of independent sections, each of them being firmly connected to a frame peripherally protruding from said support platform.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a bed for long-stay patients, inparticular for bedridden patients suffering from bedsores. According toone of its features said bed comprises a metal frame supporting asupport platform, either with sprung bed base or staves, on which lies amattress consisting of a plurality of independent sections, each of thembeing firmly connected to a frame peripherally protruding from saidsupport platform. Advantageously, said support platform is equipped withan articulated joint placed in the central portion of the bed, so as tolift in a sub-vertical position the bed portion against which thepatient's back rests, so as to let the patient be sitting. A similararticulated joint can be provided in the portion corresponding to thepatient's legs so as to lift the latter, if necessary, thus helpingvenous circulation. Said movements can be carried out manually or easilythanks to suitable electric motors operated with a remote control.Advantageously, the bed is equipped with a commode and is mounted ongummed wheels, thus making it easy to move.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Further characteristics and advantages of the bed according tothe invention shall be evident from the following description of apreferred embodiment of the latter, given as mere non-limiting example,shown in the appended drawings, in which:

[0003]FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation, partially sectioned accordingto the plane of line I-I of FIG. 2, and

[0004]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bed of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005] With reference to the drawings, the bed shown comprises—in awholly usual way—a head portion 1 and a foot portion 2, which areadvantageously made of metal tubes and connected one to the other bymeans of a metal frame 3 supporting a sprung base or a stave structure 4constituting the support platform for the bed mattress. The four feet ofthe bed are mounted on castor gummed wheels 5, said feet being equippedwith braking means 6 for blocking said wheels, so as to prevent the bedfrom moving in undesired directions. The support platform 4 for themattress is provided on its whole perimeter with an edge 7 constitutinga peripheral frame protruding above, and said support platform 4 isarticulated around the pins 8, which are basically positioned in thearea where the patient's pelvis rests, so as to lift the portion 104 ofthe support platform 4 on which the patient's back lies, in asub-vertical position, as shown in FIG. 1 with dots and lines. To thispurpose it can be provided for a motorized lifting system comprising amotor 9 equipped on its shaft with a pinion 10 engaging with a rackportion of a circular sector 11, connected to said portion 104, so as tolift and/or lower the latter by means of a suitable remote control (notshown). A similar device can be provided in the portion corresponding tothe patient's legs so as to lift the latter. Above the support platform4 lies the mattress 12. As better shown in FIG. 2, said mattress 12 isdivided into a series of independent cross sections which, in the caseshown, have been referred to as 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 d′, 12 e, 12f, 12 g. Obviously, there could be more or less of said sections thanthose shown. Said mattress sections are firmly secured to the edges 7for instance by means of pins with a butterfly screw 113, or by means ofany other suitable device. This division into independent portions ofthe mattress 12 further allows to choose for every bed portion thepadding material having the best thickness for supporting the patient.Moreover, as shown, the mattress sections 12 e to 12 g, can beadvantageously provided on both sides with hollows 13 housing thepatient's legs. Eventually, in the central portion the mattress sections12 d and 12 d′ are separated by a wide circular passage 14 communicatingwith the compartment below 15 (see FIG. 1) housing a hygienic bedpan 16.The bed here described is eventually equipped with two side edges 17secured to the bed structure in any suitable way, and with a platform 18arranged close to the bed base, which can be used as a generic supportplatform.

[0006] Obviously, although the bed has been described as being made ofmetal tubes, it can also be carried out with other materials, wood forinstance. The support platform 18 can advantageously be made by a lightmaterial and be placed some centimeters below the support platform 15for the hygienic receptacle 16. Said support platform can be used forputting away various items such as drug basins, and so on.

[0007] The peripheral bed-side 7 shall have such a height as to containthe mattress 12, and its height shall preferably be a little smallerthan the thickness of the mattress 12. This edge prevents the mattressfrom slipping.

[0008] Thanks to the wheels 5 the bed can be shifted as the patientdesires, and for instance before a window, and so on.

[0009] The bed described can also be provided with a washablering-shaped cushion, to be used as a soft sitting support.

[0010] Moreover, the circular passage 14 can be equipped with a closingelement.

I claim
 1. Bed for long-stay patients, in particular for bedridden patients suffering from bedsores, comprising a metal frame supporting a support platform for a mattress, in which said mattress is formed by a plurality of independent sections, each of them being firmly connected to a frame peripherally protruding from said support platform.
 2. Bed according to claim 1, in which the said support platform consists of a sprung bed base or of a stave structure.
 3. Bed according to claim 1, in which said support platform is equipped with an articulated joint arranged in the central bed portion, so as to lift in a sub-vertical position the bed portion against which the patient's back rests.
 4. Bed according to claim 1, in which said support platform is provided with an articulated joint in the portion corresponding to the patient's legs.
 5. Bed according to claim 4 in which said lifting and/or lowering movements of the portions concerned of said support platform can be carried out with suitable motors.
 6. Bed according to claim 1, further equipped with a compartment housing a bedpan below the said support platform, the said support platform and the said mattress being provided with a hole communicating with the compartment housing the said bedpan.
 7. Bed according to claim 1, further provided with castor gummed wheels, equipped with blocking elements.
 8. Bed according to claim 1, in which said mattress is divided into a series of independent cross sections each secured to the bed-side of the support platform for instance by means of pins.
 9. Bed according to claim 8, in which for each mattress section it is possible to choose the padding material having the best consistency for supporting the patient.
 10. Bed according to the claim 9, in which the mattress sections placed close to the patient's legs can be advantageously provided on both sides with hollows housing the patient's legs.
 11. Bed according to claim 1, further equipped with side edges secured to the bed structure in an easily removable way.
 12. Bed according claim 1, further comprising a platform arranged close to the bed base, which can be used as a generic support platform. 